I agree to some extent with what you're saying but as an articulate, intelligent, knowledgeable individual I would like to point out that there are *some* of us who do work in retail for many reasons.
I worked in PC Sales for a year to help fund my degree. I've also been a butcher, a fishmonger, a carpenter and many other jobs where the general public has taken the attitude that because I work in a shop/building site I must be stupid.
If everyone was a little more open minded and a little less prejudiced the world would be a much better place.
That would be pretty sweet but that thing couldn't negotiate stairs. Ed-209 had impressive weaponry but was about effective as a Dalek when it came to chasing people up stairs. And all they had was a sink plunger and an egg whisk!
The only reason English copyright law is tolerated is because it is rarely enforced, and even then, only when it is someone making money by breaking the law.
P2P is no different than borrowing a CD from a friend. You listen to it it, maybe you keep a copy, and maybe you buy the original, maybe not. The difference is that I now have a lot of anonymous Internet friends.;)
The various RIAA-like organisations should do the following (Ob-Slashjoke):
1. Accept that you will never stop people from sharing copyright material - its human nature. 2. Accept that someone who does so may have never bought the product anyway - why pay £15 for a CD you don't like THAT much? 3. Realise that most people who use P2P have bought a product because they downloaded it and never would have thought to buy it previously. 4. Change business model in response to the above. 5. ????? 6. Profit!
I left my last job because my girlfriend of 4 years started sleeping with one of my members of staff. I used to work for Tiny (http://www.tiny.com/ as a manager in one of their stores until she started shagging my assistant manager. Had he been a regular salesperson I could have sacked him (would have found something to use) but because he was an assistant manager I would have had to go through my boss. So I left before I redecorated the shop in a fetching shade of red. I'm too pretty for prison!
Then she fleeced me financially when she moved out. Not that I'm bitter.;)
PS: Don't buy PCs from Tiny, they suck, and customer service is terrible.
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
The biggest problem you'll face is that people hate change. They worry about learning new things, about being replaced by computers, about all sorts of things.
The key to success is getting your users to accept the changes, and for that you need to communicate with them. Explain why the changes are needed, how it will affect them and how they are going to be assisted in dealing with the new setup.
The communication needs to be a two way thing as well. Ask them questions, ask if THEY'VE got any questions. Get their feedback and get them onside. If you can do that, you've only got to worry about getting the new system set up.
AFAIK you can only be prosecuted under another country's copyright laws if the country you are in signed a particular convention (can't recall the name right now). Not that that would stop the RIAA from having a go. Bastards.
These people seriously need to look at their business model. Having said that, if I had the choice between sueing for thousands of dollars per track, thus being paid for something that never would have been bought anyway, or getting $20 a CD (or whatever they cost over there), I know which I'd choose.
Most schools in my local area (Essex, England) have banned parents from taking photos/videos at school plays/sports events etc. for the same reason. That's all well and good but the cost of buying videos/photos from the school is prohibitive for a lot of parents (especially in big families), plus there's the fact that for most of these events, only the parents can buy tickets anyway.
Meanwhile, back on topic, if I knew that someone was downloading child porn, my first point of contact would be the police, not their ISP. The fine also seems pretty pointless, considering that its such a small amount. If its a major company like BT or NTL, they would probably make that sort of money in the time it took you to submit the report.
**Disclaimer: I've not researched this at all, consider this post merely a brainfart!**
You did not say what hardware/software you are using so I don't know if this is any use but if you're running Windows (and I assume that your hardware just emulates a standard mouse anyway), here's a few ideas.
Most RTS games can be played mouse only so you should be OK with anything Command-And-Conquer-esque. I'm not sure how quickly/accurately you can move a cursor but you can adjust the speed of most RTS games to suit. Turn-based strategy games would be good too, and you can play both types online.
There are loads of online games (cards/board games etc.) which you only need a mouse to play. If you have an onscreen keyboard you will be able to chat as well.
Most FPS games will likely be out of the question as you generally require a keyboard AND mouse to play. Having said that, the original Doom/Wolfenstein games can be played without a keyboard.
Also, try to find out if there's a disabled gamers group either online or near you. I would imagine there must be SOMEONE out there in a similar situation to you, so maybe they can be more helpful than me!
The media do like to get hold of the "Criminal Rights" thing and blow it out of proportion but my point was that if I catch someone burgling my house, and I beat them up, I will get in trouble and they will get off scot free, despite being somewhere they shouldn't have been without permission.
I agree with you on the EU. We can't stand around umming and ahhing about it! Either join fully or leave fully. The same with the USA. I currently spoil my paper as I don't believe that there is currently any politician who cares about the things that matter. They are all in it for the money.
Idiots Are Taking Over applies here in England too. The worst thing is that our government just bends over and takes it up the arse from anyone who offers it. I'm so sick of us being the world's bitch. I'm actually ashamed to be English.
What with Trusted Computing, the whole P2P scandal, CCTV and speed cameras I fear for my future children. We're heading towards a Big Brother future that I don't want to be a part of, and I certainly wouldn't want to bring children into it.
I'm living in a country where the criminals have more rights than the victims, and where the only people actually getting taken to court are the ones defending themselves from burglars and muggers. Well, unless they're being sued into oblivion by anyone who can get away with it.
If the government spent more time worrying about the things that really matter (like Education, Health, Transport) then we wouldn't be in this shit state. But then again, it's far easier to pass bullshit laws and worry about shit that doesn't matter.
That all depends on your definition of a "good page." A page that takes ages to download on a 56K modem because the layout is done in tables is not a good page. A page that cannot be accessed by the blind or partially sighted is not a good page.
The W3C standards exist for a reason - so that every website can be accessed by everyone. The continued use of MSIE by the masses is preventing this from happening.
Why? Because it cannot render W3C standard HTML, CSS1 or CSS2 code. These are the most basic building blocks for any web site, and yet all manner of tricks and hacks have to be used in order to get MSIE to display standardised pages correctly. Microsoft did not work to make IE "able to display all pages" - they completely disregarded the W3C standards (that are there for the benefit of everybody) and created their own out of sheer arrogance to increase its share of users.
You can never stop piracy. People have been sharing copyright material ever since it became available. People have always bootlegged at concerts, copied their friends' music (either onto cassette tape or CD), rented films on VHS and copied them. It isn't legal, but it always has and always will go on.
The difference now is that its happening on a larger scale than before, and that people are more easily caught. If I walk over to my friend's house, borrow a CD, take it home and copy it, there's no way anyone will ever find out. If I download the same CD over KaZaA or as a.torrent anyone can find out my IP address, get loads of info on me, and no doubt pressure my ISP into handing over my name/address. I can then be sued.
However, this will not stop piracy. Sure it might stop me (for a while at least) but its not gonna stop the majority. The MPAA/RIAA can shut down all the sites they want but sooner or later, they're gonna have to change their business model.
There's a great line in About A Boy about getting royalty fees from Christmas carol singers. This anti-P2P stuff is almost as insane.
Slashdot Mirror
... It's funny! Laugh, Smile :)
I'll be fine, I run Linux, so all my files are in a shared *directory* :)
NOFX - Dinosaurs Will Die
;)
It's about how "the parasitic music industry" is going to "destroy itself."
I'm not gonna post the lyrics for fear of being sued
I agree to some extent with what you're saying but as an articulate, intelligent, knowledgeable individual I would like to point out that there are *some* of us who do work in retail for many reasons.
I worked in PC Sales for a year to help fund my degree. I've also been a butcher, a fishmonger, a carpenter and many other jobs where the general public has taken the attitude that because I work in a shop/building site I must be stupid.
If everyone was a little more open minded and a little less prejudiced the world would be a much better place.
That would be pretty sweet but that thing couldn't negotiate stairs. Ed-209 had impressive weaponry but was about effective as a Dalek when it came to chasing people up stairs. And all they had was a sink plunger and an egg whisk!
The only reason English copyright law is tolerated is because it is rarely enforced, and even then, only when it is someone making money by breaking the law.
;)
P2P is no different than borrowing a CD from a friend. You listen to it it, maybe you keep a copy, and maybe you buy the original, maybe not. The difference is that I now have a lot of anonymous Internet friends.
The various RIAA-like organisations should do the following (Ob-Slashjoke):
1. Accept that you will never stop people from sharing copyright material - its human nature.
2. Accept that someone who does so may have never bought the product anyway - why pay £15 for a CD you don't like THAT much?
3. Realise that most people who use P2P have bought a product because they downloaded it and never would have thought to buy it previously.
4. Change business model in response to the above.
5. ?????
6. Profit!
I want to be a pirate.
I left my last job because my girlfriend of 4 years started sleeping with one of my members of staff. I used to work for Tiny (http://www.tiny.com/ as a manager in one of their stores until she started shagging my assistant manager. Had he been a regular salesperson I could have sacked him (would have found something to use) but because he was an assistant manager I would have had to go through my boss. So I left before I redecorated the shop in a fetching shade of red. I'm too pretty for prison!
Then she fleeced me financially when she moved out. Not that I'm bitter. ;)
PS: Don't buy PCs from Tiny, they suck, and customer service is terrible.
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
The biggest problem you'll face is that people hate change. They worry about learning new things, about being replaced by computers, about all sorts of things.
The key to success is getting your users to accept the changes, and for that you need to communicate with them. Explain why the changes are needed, how it will affect them and how they are going to be assisted in dealing with the new setup.
The communication needs to be a two way thing as well. Ask them questions, ask if THEY'VE got any questions. Get their feedback and get them onside. If you can do that, you've only got to worry about getting the new system set up.
Hey I got loads of virii in my pants. STDs are like Pokemon, you gotta catch 'em all!
(I'll trade my herpes for your chlamydia.)
AFAIK you can only be prosecuted under another country's copyright laws if the country you are in signed a particular convention (can't recall the name right now). Not that that would stop the RIAA from having a go. Bastards.
These people seriously need to look at their business model. Having said that, if I had the choice between sueing for thousands of dollars per track, thus being paid for something that never would have been bought anyway, or getting $20 a CD (or whatever they cost over there), I know which I'd choose.
Most schools in my local area (Essex, England) have banned parents from taking photos/videos at school plays/sports events etc. for the same reason. That's all well and good but the cost of buying videos/photos from the school is prohibitive for a lot of parents (especially in big families), plus there's the fact that for most of these events, only the parents can buy tickets anyway.
Meanwhile, back on topic, if I knew that someone was downloading child porn, my first point of contact would be the police, not their ISP. The fine also seems pretty pointless, considering that its such a small amount. If its a major company like BT or NTL, they would probably make that sort of money in the time it took you to submit the report.
**Disclaimer: I've not researched this at all, consider this post merely a brainfart!**
You did not say what hardware/software you are using so I don't know if this is any use but if you're running Windows (and I assume that your hardware just emulates a standard mouse anyway), here's a few ideas.
Most RTS games can be played mouse only so you should be OK with anything Command-And-Conquer-esque. I'm not sure how quickly/accurately you can move a cursor but you can adjust the speed of most RTS games to suit. Turn-based strategy games would be good too, and you can play both types online.
There are loads of online games (cards/board games etc.) which you only need a mouse to play. If you have an onscreen keyboard you will be able to chat as well.
Most FPS games will likely be out of the question as you generally require a keyboard AND mouse to play. Having said that, the original Doom/Wolfenstein games can be played without a keyboard.
Also, try to find out if there's a disabled gamers group either online or near you. I would imagine there must be SOMEONE out there in a similar situation to you, so maybe they can be more helpful than me!
Good luck!
I think you meant to say "worked"
Signed,
Your Area Manager
;)
Is commonly known as Geek's Workshop in my local area. ;)
I wish my grandmother was an astrophysicist, that is so cool!
Not that my Nan isn't pretty l33t but still, an astrophysicist, wow!
The media do like to get hold of the "Criminal Rights" thing and blow it out of proportion but my point was that if I catch someone burgling my house, and I beat them up, I will get in trouble and they will get off scot free, despite being somewhere they shouldn't have been without permission.
I agree with you on the EU. We can't stand around umming and ahhing about it! Either join fully or leave fully. The same with the USA. I currently spoil my paper as I don't believe that there is currently any politician who cares about the things that matter. They are all in it for the money.
Idiots Are Taking Over applies here in England too. The worst thing is that our government just bends over and takes it up the arse from anyone who offers it. I'm so sick of us being the world's bitch. I'm actually ashamed to be English.
What with Trusted Computing, the whole P2P scandal, CCTV and speed cameras I fear for my future children. We're heading towards a Big Brother future that I don't want to be a part of, and I certainly wouldn't want to bring children into it.
I'm living in a country where the criminals have more rights than the victims, and where the only people actually getting taken to court are the ones defending themselves from burglars and muggers. Well, unless they're being sued into oblivion by anyone who can get away with it.
If the government spent more time worrying about the things that really matter (like Education, Health, Transport) then we wouldn't be in this shit state. But then again, it's far easier to pass bullshit laws and worry about shit that doesn't matter.
That all depends on your definition of a "good page." A page that takes ages to download on a 56K modem because the layout is done in tables is not a good page. A page that cannot be accessed by the blind or partially sighted is not a good page.
The W3C standards exist for a reason - so that every website can be accessed by everyone. The continued use of MSIE by the masses is preventing this from happening.
Why? Because it cannot render W3C standard HTML, CSS1 or CSS2 code. These are the most basic building blocks for any web site, and yet all manner of tricks and hacks have to be used in order to get MSIE to display standardised pages correctly. Microsoft did not work to make IE "able to display all pages" - they completely disregarded the W3C standards (that are there for the benefit of everybody) and created their own out of sheer arrogance to increase its share of users.
Please start using a standards compliant browser.
You can never stop piracy. People have been sharing copyright material ever since it became available. People have always bootlegged at concerts, copied their friends' music (either onto cassette tape or CD), rented films on VHS and copied them. It isn't legal, but it always has and always will go on. The difference now is that its happening on a larger scale than before, and that people are more easily caught. If I walk over to my friend's house, borrow a CD, take it home and copy it, there's no way anyone will ever find out. If I download the same CD over KaZaA or as a .torrent anyone can find out my IP address, get loads of info on me, and no doubt pressure my ISP into handing over my name/address. I can then be sued.
However, this will not stop piracy. Sure it might stop me (for a while at least) but its not gonna stop the majority. The MPAA/RIAA can shut down all the sites they want but sooner or later, they're gonna have to change their business model.
There's a great line in About A Boy about getting royalty fees from Christmas carol singers. This anti-P2P stuff is almost as insane.